WEBVTT POINT WITH MORE.BILL: I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAYTHE CROWD WAS STUNNED BY THENEWS TODAY.NIDO QUBEIN NOT ONLY PLANS TO-- NOT ONLY PROMISING TO RAISE$38 MILLION, HE SAYS HE'LL RAISEIT BY SEPTEMBER 15, LESS THANFOUR MONTHS FROM TODAY.QUBEIN TOLD BUSINESS LEADERSTHERE'S NO TIME FOR A PITY PARTYOVER LOST JOBS AND A RISINGCRIME RATEINSTEAD, HE UNVEILED A BOLD PLANTO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN HIGHPOINT INTO A DESTINATION SPOT,AND PUT HIS MONEY WHERE HISMOUTH IS.>> TODAY, I OFFER MY HOME CITYMY PROMISE TO RAISE EVERY BIT OFTHIS MONEY NEEDED TO BUILD ANEVENT CENTER, CHILDREN'S MUSEUM,PARK CINEMA, NAMING THESTADIUM, AND ACQUIRING A TEAM.THAT IS $38 MILLION, AND WE WILLRAISE EVER LAST BY SEPTEMBER 15OF THIS YEAR.[APPLAUSE]BILL: HE SAYS THERE WON'T BE ANYFUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN.HE SAYS THE $38 MILLION WILLCOME FROM HIS FRIENDS.COULD YOU TELL US WHO YOURFRIENDS ARE?[LAUGHTER]>> NO, BUT THAT IS EASY FOR YOUTO FIGURE OUT.JUST SEE HOW WE RAISED MORE THAN$300 MILLION AT HIGH POINTUNIVERSITY.MY ROLODEX IS PRETTY THICK.BILL HE SAYS HE WILL HEAD UP APRIVATE BOARD MADE OF HIS FELLOWDONORS.HE WILL ALSO LEAD THE CITY'SEFFORT IN ACQUIRING A BASEBALLTEAM AND SELLING THE NAMINGRIGHTS TO THE STADIUM.HE TOLD THE CROWD TODAY SEVERALTIMES THAT NEITHER HE NOR ANYONEON THE PRIVATE BOARD WILL EARN A

Local college president announces $38 million fundraising initiative

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Updated: 5:51 PM EDT May 17, 2017

HIGH POINT, N.C. —

The same man who revitalized High Point University wants to do the same for the city of High Point.

Dr. Nido Qubein, president of High Point University, announced plans on Wednesday to raise $38 million in private money to to pay for several projects around the city's proposed baseball stadium.

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His ideas include a children's museum, park and an educational cinema in High Point.

The announcement was made at the High Point Convention and Visitors Organization's annual meeting at the High Point Country Club.

Qubein, who served as the keynote speaker for the event, said he plans to raise $38 million by Sept. 15 with the help of a small group of friends to pay for the community improvements.

He said the city would be "insane” not to accept his offer. He said a baseball park alone isn’t enough to bring people back to downtown High Point.

In April, the Forward High Point Board unanimously approved a resolution requesting and encouraging Qubein to strategically lead and direct the acquisition of a baseball franchise, stadium naming rights, facility management and ancillary developments (in partnership with city) centered around a multi-use stadium in downtown High Point.

"Forward High Point has worked diligently to create conditions for transformative redevelopment in downtown High Point. Our goal was to lead a catalyst project into downtown that supported jobs, housing and restaurants. Dr. Qubein is a man of action, character, principle and is the logical and qualified choice to lead the strategic development and secure the foundation of this critical economic catalyst project for our city," says Doyle, Chairman of Forward High Point.

Mayor Bencini adds, "High Point is proud of the transformation and sustained success High Point University has achieved under Dr. Nido Qubein's leadership. This proclamation will turn our 'can -do attitude' into 'we sure will attitude.' Assuming he accepts, this request by Forward High Point will ensure success through the proven leadership of a long time High Pointer and is a natural leader who has demonstrated time and again his love for our city."

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